Police probe possible hate crime against Sikhs in Washington

WASHINGTON: The US police is investigating a possible hate crime against two septuagenarian Sikh men who were beaten up by a group of teenagers in a suburb here.

The two men aged 75 and 77 were walking in the woods on September 15 when they attacked by six boys who punched the two in their face, according to police.

Police said they were investigating the incident, which came just three days after the anniversary of 9/11 attacks, as a possible hate crime.

Earlier, the Sikh American Legal Defence and Education Fund filed a complaint with the Federal Bureau of Investigations (FBI) and Montgomery County police department saying that "as no valuables were taken, there are indications that the attack could have been racially or religiously motivated".

"Such attacks create an environment of fear for not only all Maryland residents, but for minorities across the country," it said.